Abigail Adams to Charles Storer

[dateline] London March 23 1786

[salute] Dear Charles

Your kind Letter of []1 came to hand by captain Lyde. I had chid you for not writing by way of Newyork, as
you could not but suppose we were anxious for your safety. I constantly inquired what
vessels were arrived, and Had the pleasure of hearing that Captain Stout was safe
a month before your Letter came. I suppose you thought you would be very particular,
yet mark, you never told me how the children behaved at sea, nor who was the best
Nurse, nor how Mrs Atkinson stood the voyage,2 nor whether your cold was troublesome, and all that. You were so rejoiced that you had got once more to dear Boston that what was past,
was all vision. Well, well I excuse you, only next time do better, and tell me what
you have been doing since your return. Are you studying divinity as you talkd? Or
are you planning schemes for merchandize. The Youth of our Country must turn their
minds to Agriculture, to Manufactories, and endeavour to benifit their Country in
that way. There is vast scope for them. I am glad to learn from you that Luxery is
in some measure retrenchd, necessity itself may carry virtue in its train, I want
to come home and live amongst you, for with all your faults I love you better than
any other people. Good Dr Price gave us a discourse last sunday upon the Jew and Samaratin,
and with his usual Phylanthropy told us, that, all mankind were our Neighbours, and
every Being who was in distress, of whatever Country, or Religion, was our Brother,
and demanded from us our aid, and assistance. It is impossible to hear this good Man
without having our Hearts and minds enlarged. It was virtue more than consanguinity
that clamed our preferable regard. Now upon this principal I believe I ought to love
my Countrymen best, as I really think them possest of a larger portion of virtue than
any other Nation, I am acquainted with, and my wish is that they had still more, and
wisdom enough added to it, to convince them of a necessity of a union of counsels
and conduct with regard to their publick measures. In vain will they call for commercial
Treaties, in vain will they look for respect in Europe, in vain will they hope for
Peace with the { 114 } Barbery states, whilst their own citizens discover a jealousy of Congress and a reluctance
at enlargeing their powers, a fear even to trust them with commercial arrangments.

Age and experience should teach wisdom and if the Beardless youths whom some of the
states send to judge of elegant diction and well turnd periods, are only competant
to com'as and points, why let them not be rob'd of their mite, but sent as preceptors to instruct the rising generation but let not the science of politicks, and the interest of Nations be quibled out
of countanance by these Butterflies of yesterday. What but a pidling genious would
think of quarrelling with words? Tell them I despise them—I have however given the
hint to the person for whom it was designd, and in future he will endeavour to leave
out the monosyllable I as much as possible. A parcel of Blockheads said he, let them send me a private Secretary
then. You know the drugery too well, and have unrewarded done your share.3 The writing which this negotiation takes up is incredible, altho nothing Scarcly
appears to come of it. Amelia too, has her portion of private Letter-copying,4 at which she scolds sometimes. Politicks you know she pretends to hate, but I do
not find however that she dislikes the Gentleman in the politician.

As to the other confidential matter you communicated, I can only say that if the Gentleman
is ungenerous enough, either to copy the letters, or to detain any of them, it can
only be to his own mortification, when he reflects that through his own imprudence
and missconduct, he has forfeited the Esteem of a family who were disposed to have
owned him as a member of it, and the affection of a Lady who would have studied to
have made him happy, but each of the Parties have much more agreeable prospects before
them now. Let it not surprize you when I tell you that your Young Friend is under
engagements, and to a Gentleman of unblemishd reputation, an amiable Character irreproachable
honour and approved integrity. You will be at no loss to determine that col S. is
the person described, and as the matter is agreed upon by all parties, I have no desire
to keep it a secreet, more especially as I Suspect matrimony is very soon the object
of the Gentleman. I think he is in full haste enough, and I tell him so, but he says
in replie, what is there to hinder? Nay consider sir—it is but a few months since
you made a declaration of this kind–“yes Madam thats true, but you were no stranger to the sentiments of my mind or the situation of my Heart, when
I found it necessary for my own Peace—to ask leave of absence. The Situation of the
Lady is different now, and what was { 115 } formerly an impediment exists no longer, pray my good Madam, persuade yourself of
the propriety of a speedy union.” I believe a soldier is always more expeditious in
his courtships than other Men, they know better how to Capture the citidal.

As to the Gentlemans asking no questions respecting the family, I do not wonder at
that. He could not but feel dissagreeably, and could not have said any thing to you,
who he had reason to think, knew all the circumstances. He will have too much pride
to shew his dissapointment. I am rejoiced that his conduct can no longer give me the
pain which it has done, for a long time. I will bid him adieu I wish him no evil.

The treaty with Portugal is just concluding, mr Jefferson is here and will sign it
before he quits London. I wish I could say as much with respect to this Country. As
to the Posts, they will be held till the states repeal those laws which prevent the
course of Justice. And perhaps the states will say, that they will not repeal the
Laws untill the posts are given up.5 The Question then is, who shall first do right? Congress are made acquainted with
all that has been done or said upon the Matter, tho I know not whether it has yet
reachd them. There is an other matter before them, which demands wise Heads. I mean
the terms upon which the Barbary powers will make peace. This knowledge has been obtaind
through the Tripoline Minister who is now at this Court. He has full powers to make
treaties, and is perpetual Ambassador, a good kind of Man. Mr A visited him, smoakd
in his long pipe and took coffe with him. He had two Secretaries who were not permitted
to set in his presence, and he is very cautious to keep from this Court any knowledge
of conferences with the united States.

These two last matters you will be Mum upon; as it is best to be silent yet. My best regards to your Pappa Mamma sisters
and Brothers, &c. &c. Be assured that the shortness of my paper curtails my pen and
obliges me to subscribe my self your Friend

2. Charles Storer, his sister Elizabeth Storer Atkinson, and her family sailed from London
in September and arrived in New York on 8 Nov. 1785 aboard the Triumph, Capt. Stout (vol. 6:208, 365, 369, 458; New York Packet, 10 Nov. 1785). English merchant John Atkinson, who married Elizabeth Storer in 1773,
had sailed from Boston with his family of four in March 1776 (Boston, 30th Report, p. 331; James H. Stark, The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American Revolution, Boston, 1910, p. 133).

3. Storer acted as JA's secretary in Aug. and Sept. 1785, following WSS's departure for Prussia to see the military review of Frederick the Great's troops
(vol. 6:260, 343, 365).

5. In response to JA's memorial of 30 Nov., Lord Carmarthen stated that Great Britain would not relinquish
the frontier posts until U.S. states removed restrictions inhibiting British creditors
from collecting American debts (Carmarthen to JA, 28 Feb., Adams Papers).